Budget — Hanoi

Hanoi is one of the most accessible destinations in Asia for European travellers, with an average of €45/day/person covering comfortable accommodation, three meals and local transport. That figure can compress very low in backpacker mode or stretch for a luxury stay.

A backpacker lives very comfortably on €15-25 a day: a dorm bed in a hostel in the Old Quarter or Ba Dinh (150,000-300,000 VND, €5-11), street or local canteen meals (30,000-80,000 VND per meal, €1-3), Grab rides (30,000-80,000 VND). The mid-range traveller — a clean air-conditioned double room in a 3-star Old Quarter hotel (400,000-900,000 VND/night, €14-33), mid-range restaurants (100,000-250,000 VND per meal), Grab taxis — lands between €40 and €70 per day. The luxury traveller in design boutique hotels or renovated colonial lakeside establishments (1,500,000-4,000,000 VND/night, €55-148), spa and contemporary Vietnamese cuisine, counts €120-200 per day.

By spending category, realistic ranges: Accommodation: dorm 120,000-250,000 VND (€4-9), basic double 250,000-500,000 VND (€9-18), comfort hotel 500,000-1,200,000 VND (€18-44), luxury boutique hotel 1,200,000-4,000,000 VND (€44-148). Food: street pho or bun cha 30,000-60,000 VND (€1-2), local restaurant 80,000-200,000 VND (€3-7), gastronomic restaurant 300,000-700,000 VND (€11-26). Transport: Grab in the city 30,000-100,000 VND by distance, public bus 9,000 VND per trip. Site entries: Temple of Literature 30,000 VND (€1), Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum free, Museum of Ethnology 40,000 VND (€1.50). Activities: cooking class 400,000-800,000 VND (€15-30), Ha Long Bay 2d/1n cruise 2,000,000-7,000,000 VND (€74-260) depending on level.

Budget tips: always negotiate the price of a cyclo ride before boarding. For Ha Long Bay excursions, compare several operators — prices vary threefold for similar services. Beware of Ha Long 'excursions' for under US$15 — they are not worth the effort.